Water equivalence of various 3D printed materials for proton therapy - Monte Carlo simulation, treatment planning modelling and validation by measurements

Abstract

In this article, Water Equivalent Ratio (WER) of three selected materials: Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrilebutadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) - commonly used in additive manufacturing technology - was measured on 60 MeV proton beam and compared with values predicted by Treatment Planning System (TPS) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The agreement within 1-3% and 1-6% was found between results obtained from the measurement with comparison to the MC simulation and TPS, respectively. It was concluded that 3D printable materials can be safely used in proton therapy.